tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15603202Sun, 10 May 2015 02:18:29 +0000Famous Mark Verheidens Of FilmlandMark Verheiden's thoughts... such as they are...http://verheiden.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Mark Verheiden)Blogger1100125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15603202.post-4001749914933423422Sun, 10 May 2015 02:18:00 +00002015-05-09T19:18:29.788-07:00Catching Up!Okay, so it's been three months since my last blog post.&nbsp; I've been busy!&nbsp; I did this show called Constantine that was unfortunately and unfairly just cancelled by NBC, I wrote a pilot for another network that came "this close" (Maxwell Smart voice, and if THAT doesn't date me, nothing will), and embarked on various other adventures that will remain clandestine for the time being... <br /><br />When I'm not attached to the computer, I'm, well, attached to other viewing platforms.&nbsp; Movies, TV, audio, my senses are being attacked on a daily basis.&nbsp; There is so much out there of interest and so little time... you don't really need my review of the new Avengers movie, but here are a few slightly more obscure objects of art that have piqued my interest.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wpmo_ZJ962g/VU66lqUI3iI/AAAAAAAAAD8/nqt_3-f6Gp0/s1600/Steve%2BDitko%2B23.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wpmo_ZJ962g/VU66lqUI3iI/AAAAAAAAAD8/nqt_3-f6Gp0/s320/Steve%2BDitko%2B23.JPG" width="197" /></a></div>First up, the latest and greatest from the inimitable Steve Ditko, co-creator of Amazing Spider-Man and a host of other characters. At 80-something, Ditko continues to produce a book every three or four months, financing his efforts through a series of Kickstarter campaigns.&nbsp; I am proud to say I've contributed to (I think) every one, and just as proudly have the entire S. Ditko collection on my own personal comics rack.&nbsp; I would try to describe the stories, but really, you have to see these to really get the vibe. The comics don't really tell you how to order, but an e-mail to Ditko's partner/publisher Robin Snyder at RobinBrigit@comcast.net will probably get you the information you desire. Buy, enjoy, savor...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zsupNq8eBqE/VU69FgY3ZXI/AAAAAAAAAEc/Jf6icqTo5hw/s1600/power%2Bpop%2Bheroes%2Bvol%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zsupNq8eBqE/VU69FgY3ZXI/AAAAAAAAAEc/Jf6icqTo5hw/s1600/power%2Bpop%2Bheroes%2Bvol%2B2.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k_OJgF6vjZY/VU68JjgIvsI/AAAAAAAAAEM/MrWlNy7IDWw/s1600/Power%2BPop%2BHeroes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>Next, from writer Ken Sharp... Power Pop Heroes Vol 2 is a 800 page (!) wealth of interviews with some of the Kings of Power Pop, ranging from members of Cheap Trick to the Rubinoos to the Ramones to the Bay City Rollers.&nbsp; And yes, you read that right... this is volume two, with volume three coming soon.&nbsp; I've always loved power pop and even if you don't, there is a lot of interesting ephemera about the music business, band longevity (The Rubinoos have been together 40 years?!) and just basic survival skills.&nbsp; Go here for the details -- http://www.goodmusicguy.com/play-on-power-pop-heroes-volume-2/?preview=true, then check in with Bruce at Popgeekheaven@gmail.com to get the upload on all the insane stuff he's got coming out this year.&nbsp; Then get a second job, you're going to need it!<br /><br />Also from Bruce at popgeekheaven, an announcement that made me sad and caused me to part with a few more bux.&nbsp; Michael Carpenter is an exquisite singer/songwriter who has decided to move away from recording, but not before knocking out one more double album of power pop greatness. Check out his financing site and give a power-pop brother a hand...&nbsp; <br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"> <em><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"> <div> <span style="color: red; font-size: 14pt;">MICHAEL CARPENTER ANNOUNCES HIS RETIREMENT FROM MAKING SOLO RECORDS TO CONCENTRATE ON PRODUCING. &nbsp; </span>I can't think of a solo artists I've known and worked with over my 25 years of power pop who I think more highly of than Michael Carpenter. &nbsp; His first four solo albums appeared on Not Lame Recordings, as well as one other side-project(The Supahip) and over the last 17 years, he's released a large body of consistently excellent albums - must be close to 20. &nbsp; Now, he announces this last solo album(a double album) and YOU CAN HELP MAKE IT HAPPEN and show your support. &nbsp;&nbsp; </div></span></strong></em> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> <br /> </div><div style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><b><i> <div>Check out all the details: &nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="http://www.pozible.com/project/195751" shape="rect" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">http://www.pozible.com/project/195751</a></div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>&nbsp; </div></i></b></span> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span> </div>http://verheiden.blogspot.com/2015/05/catching-up.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mark Verheiden)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15603202.post-1707477780543839763Sun, 08 Feb 2015 23:59:00 +00002015-02-08T15:59:06.652-08:00A Whole Lot Of Star Trek...So I'm a real big fan of the original (Shatner, Nimoy, Kelley) STAR TREK series.&nbsp; And over the years I have slaked my fan desire on all sorts of books dedicated to the stars and the show, from the contemporary "Making Of Star Trek" paperback by Stephen E. Whitfield, to David Gerrold's exhaustive examination of the making of "Trouble With Tribbles", to biographies by and/or about virtually every significant cast member.&nbsp; And when I met my son's babysitter's Grandfather for the first time, I was stunned to be in the presence of the great Anthony Caruso, AKA Bela Oxmyx from "A Piece of the Action."<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bw3AWzb0dYQ/VNf1Y0hguWI/AAAAAAAAADM/qMqBs-aiByw/s1600/Bela_Oxmyx_2268.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bw3AWzb0dYQ/VNf1Y0hguWI/AAAAAAAAADM/qMqBs-aiByw/s1600/Bela_Oxmyx_2268.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><br />So like I said, I'm a fan.&nbsp; And I thought I knew a lot about the show.&nbsp; But turns out I didn't know diddley.&nbsp; However, a prolific writer named Marc Cushman knows a WHOLE lot, and he's produced a three volume (!) set of books to prove it, exhaustively looking at the development and production of every single episode of the original Trek.&nbsp; Exhaustive may not quite cover it -- the book exploring the episodes produced during season three is over 750 (!) pages long.&nbsp;<br /><br />Using interviews from the major players, both old and new, Cushman explores the development of scripts (including many that got away), the backstage machinations, concerns of the actors, network battles, on and on and on.&nbsp; And it's all written in an accessible style that draws the reader in.&nbsp; It's going to take me weeks to plow through it all, but if you have ANY interest in the original Trek beyond "I kinda liked it", this ridiculously (in a good way!) comprehensive set will make the heart flutter. It's available in hardcover and softcover (tho the price difference between hard and soft cover is minimal) and on Kindle from Amazon.&nbsp; <br /><br />(PS: Deforest Kelley was making $2500 an episode in season three.&nbsp; Walter Koenig was at $650 per show.&nbsp; Things really HAVE changed...) <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C5M2vEoVpec/VNf3a32UT7I/AAAAAAAAADY/SK5CwsfLxZ8/s1600/these%2Bare%2Bthe%2Bvoyages%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C5M2vEoVpec/VNf3a32UT7I/AAAAAAAAADY/SK5CwsfLxZ8/s1600/these%2Bare%2Bthe%2Bvoyages%2B3.jpg" /></a></div><br />http://verheiden.blogspot.com/2015/02/a-whole-lot-of-star-trek.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mark Verheiden)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15603202.post-6679455532199868498Thu, 15 Jan 2015 00:21:00 +00002015-01-14T16:21:42.943-08:00Whiplash! The Movie, Not The Song Or Auto-Related Injury!Finally catching up to my screener collection, and since the studios weren't kind enough to send out John Wick for our amusement (what?&nbsp; They don't see "Oscar" written all over that one?) I decided to give Whiplash a spin.&nbsp; As a casual drummer myself (extremely casual!), I was intrigued by the subject matter.&nbsp; And as a JK Simmons fan, I was intrigued to see him tackle an intriguing character.&nbsp; And intriguing he is!&nbsp; Simmons plays Terrance Fletcher, a good hearted music teacher who... oh wait, that was Richard Dreyfuss in Mister Holland's Opus.&nbsp; In Whiplash, Simmons plays a musical sociopath who plays brutal head games as he pits his students against one another and ultimately against him.&nbsp; <br /><br />Miles Teller plays Andrew, a determined young jazz drummer who is taken under Fletcher's vulture-like wing.&nbsp; Needless to say, the fur flies, along with a chair and other objects, as Fletcher drives Andrew toward "Charlie Parker"-like perfection.&nbsp; Fletcher lights a fuse under Andrew, but then things take an unexpected turn.&nbsp;<br /><br />What I really liked about Whiplash was that I really had no idea where it was going, and was surprised (in a good way) by the plot twists and turns.&nbsp; Until... <br /><br />SPOILER.<br />STOP HERE IF YOU DON'T WANT SPOILERS!<br />HERE.<br />RIGHT HERE!<br /><br />So toward the end of Whiplash, both Fletcher and Andrew have been fired/expelled from the music school and are drifting down alternate paths.&nbsp; When Andrew accidentally comes across Fletcher playing a jazz gig at a NYC bar, they talk, seem to patch things up, then Fletcher invites his nominal prodigy to play with Fletcher's band of professional musicians at a "JVC competition."&nbsp; Fletcher raises the stakes as Andrew arrives, warning his (professional) band that record labels and talent scouts are in the audience, but when they hit the stage, Andrew discovers he's been set up.&nbsp; Fletcher calls for a song that Andrew doesn't know, fails to provide even charts, and Andrew goes down in flames. (That's not where the movie ends, but I'll save SOMETHING for those folks who ignored my spoiler warning and read on anyway).&nbsp; <br /><br />So here's my question.&nbsp; Yes, I get that Fletcher rightfully blamed Andrew for getting fired, and that he might be the sort who would seek "revenge."&nbsp; But would a guy this crazy-compulsive about making perfect music really throw the rest of his professional musicians under the bus to screw over his ex-student?&nbsp; During an actual, live, competitive show?&nbsp; Wouldn't the other professional musicians (not students, remember) want to take Fletcher's head off for sending them out with an unprepared drummer who ruins their set? I mean, diabolical is one thing, but self-immolation is another.<br /><br />Suffice to say things "work out" to some extent, but it's interesting what's a bump for some is a feature for others.... http://verheiden.blogspot.com/2015/01/whiplash-movie-not-song-or-auto-related.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mark Verheiden)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15603202.post-440255417579525117Tue, 06 Jan 2015 20:44:00 +00002015-01-06T21:31:18.595-08:00Monster! The Magazine!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>"Back in the day", before computers and the internet and websites and (f this, I'm feeling old), there were these curious publications known as "fanzines."&nbsp; Which were pretty much what they sound like, amateur or semi-professional magazines written and published by "fans" of pick-the-genre.&nbsp; In my world, there were all sorts of fan magazines dedicated to comics, science fiction and movies.&nbsp; Why, I even published one myself, a mimeographed movie-related 'zine called "The Big Screen."&nbsp; When I finally gave up the publishing ghost I had close to 100 subscribers, but it was all too much for a high school student with limited funds...<br /><br />Anyhow, most of these small publications are long gone, but there are still a few out there that have the glorious fanzine feel.&nbsp; I especially like Video Watchdog (nearing issue #200!), Shock Cinema and a more recent endeavor called "Monster." Available through Amazon and (I suspect, tho I may be wrong!) published using print-by-demand technology, Monster has kept a rigorous monthly schedule, with issue #12 just released.&nbsp; Basically, if you're into oddball/obscure horror or science fiction, Monster is bound to have something for you.&nbsp; With articles by experts like Stephen Bissette and editor Tim Paxton, it's a great read.&nbsp; You have any interest in the world, go to Amazon and check out the detailed contents.&nbsp; And support these guys so I can selfishly read more!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vHc55XhSVQk/VKxI0drDr8I/AAAAAAAAACs/hhiCD3tt1O4/s1600/Monster%2Bhalloween%2Bish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vHc55XhSVQk/VKxI0drDr8I/AAAAAAAAACs/hhiCD3tt1O4/s1600/Monster%2Bhalloween%2Bish.jpg" /></a></div>http://verheiden.blogspot.com/2015/01/monster-magazine.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mark Verheiden)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15603202.post-4940653117040452091Mon, 05 Jan 2015 22:55:00 +00002015-01-05T14:55:27.864-08:00Crashmobile! I'm Not The Only One Who Likes Them!I love Crashmobiles.&nbsp; And is there are a more forgotten figure in American pop culture than Art Linkletter?&nbsp; How does this connect?&nbsp; Is Mark finally (?) losing his mind?&nbsp;<br /><br />I'll let history be the judge of my mental acuity, but re: Linkletter --for a time Art was the "kids" guy, most famous for "Art Linkletter's House Party" and "Kids Say The Darnedest Things." (He also lived to the ripe age of 98 and passed away in 2010.)&nbsp; Anyhow, Art also liked exploding car toys.&nbsp; Here's a cool poster of Linkletter pimping, I mean, selling the wondrous Crashmobile.&nbsp; As seen on TV!!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zq4uHFinQps/VKsV75cS2QI/AAAAAAAAACQ/RdS4qyHpm0U/s1600/%24_57.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zq4uHFinQps/VKsV75cS2QI/AAAAAAAAACQ/RdS4qyHpm0U/s1600/%24_57.JPG" height="167" width="320" /></a></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-31GnTwoxjdw/VKsVUfV-ZZI/AAAAAAAAACI/JxEZkXoUPtg/s1600/linkletter%2Bcrashmobile%2Bno%2Breuler.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-31GnTwoxjdw/VKsVUfV-ZZI/AAAAAAAAACI/JxEZkXoUPtg/s1600/linkletter%2Bcrashmobile%2Bno%2Breuler.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> <br /><br /><span id="goog_802759690"></span><span id="goog_802759691"></span>http://verheiden.blogspot.com/2015/01/crashmobile-im-not-only-one-who-likes.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mark Verheiden)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15603202.post-4876988493199060661Sat, 03 Jan 2015 17:30:00 +00002015-01-03T09:32:55.148-08:00In Brief(s)... Cool Comics StuffNo, I'm not IN my briefs (well, actually I am, but you don't need that mind-picture)... some of the latest comics related stuff that's piqued my interest:<br /><br />THE COMPLETE JUNIOR AND SUNNY by Al Feldstein <br />There are obscure comics, and then there are OBSCURE.&nbsp; That I lived to see the day when a publisher like IDW would reissue the entire run of future Mad Magazine editor Al Feldstein's sexy comics from the early 50's astounds me.&nbsp; But I did.&nbsp; And I am astounded.&nbsp; This big, 400 page full-color volume may strike some as overkill, but given the price of these books on the collector's market, $50 is a steal.&nbsp; So, what makes this stuff worth the deluxe reprint treatment?&nbsp; Don't look at the stories, which are dull "inspired by Archie" teen junk.&nbsp; What makes this stuff "raise the ol' eyebrow" is the ridiculously detailed fetish art by Feldstein. Specifically, the dude liked drawing lady's breasts.&nbsp; Feldstein took pains to delineate thrusting, bursting-from-the-fabric breasts on every female character.&nbsp; And I mean every female character, not just the cute Betty and Veronica surrogates, but also matronly "mom", elderly teachers -- if the character's female, chances are her sad chest is just aching to explode from some ridiculously tight blouse or sweater. The end result is frankly quite surreal, since none of the stories ever actually touch on the insanely overt sexuality.&nbsp; This book also features a nice text piece on Fox Comics (where this stuff originally appeared) and various rarities, like sketches.&nbsp; And I'm still astounded.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2KuqJ6sUi34/VKgkrjATDXI/AAAAAAAAABc/zv28Vm4bQ6c/s1600/jun%2Bior%2Bsunny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2KuqJ6sUi34/VKgkrjATDXI/AAAAAAAAABc/zv28Vm4bQ6c/s1600/jun%2Bior%2Bsunny.jpg" /></a></div><br />BLACKLIGHT - THE WORLD OF LB COLE<br />This may be even MORE obscure.&nbsp; Cole was a comics publisher/artist/editor from 40's-on whose claim to fame lies with his crazy dayglo, pop-art comic book covers.&nbsp; Cole was a fairly talented artist, but his real talent lay in his great design sense.&nbsp; This guy knew how to catch a reader's eye.&nbsp; Since Cole mostly worked for smaller companies, they needed something to differentiate them from the more mainstream DC and Timely/Atlas/Marvel books.&nbsp; He certainly managed that! At 270 full color pages and even LARGER than the Junior/Sunny book, this is more Cole than most people need, but it is a comprehensive and well produced volume. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mi4QwPao7y4/VKgk_R660GI/AAAAAAAAABk/PP_zPWM4Tqw/s1600/blacklight%2Bcole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mi4QwPao7y4/VKgk_R660GI/AAAAAAAAABk/PP_zPWM4Tqw/s1600/blacklight%2Bcole.jpg" /></a></div><br />CREEPING DEATH FROM NEPTUNE - Basil Wolverton Vol 1.<br />There are several Wolverton art collections out there, but this is the first volume of a set that intends to explore his entire career from a biographical point of view.&nbsp; Most collectors know Wolverton for his really bizarre pen-and-ink "portraits" (his drawing of "Lena The Hyena" made the cover of Mad magazine) but he was also a great comics artist, radio personality (!) and etc.&nbsp; This is a remarkably detailed biography of the man's early years, including rare photos of Basil visiting the set of Buster Keaton's "The General" (it shot in Oregon, near Wolverton's hometown).&nbsp; I confess a personal obsession with Wolverton, who lived near where I grew up... when my Uncle ran into Wolverton and told him that his nephew was a comics nuts, Basil was kind enough to call this very young fellow and talk... well, local wrestling, but also comics. Nice guy and a nice book. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sOVPElEsbUU/VKgm77ut9RI/AAAAAAAAABw/P4ei1aP7bc4/s1600/creeping%2Bdeath%2Bfrom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sOVPElEsbUU/VKgm77ut9RI/AAAAAAAAABw/P4ei1aP7bc4/s1600/creeping%2Bdeath%2Bfrom.jpg" /></a></div>&nbsp; <br /><br />http://verheiden.blogspot.com/2015/01/in-briefs-cool-comics-stuff.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mark Verheiden)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15603202.post-5318007112979157661Sat, 06 Dec 2014 22:16:00 +00002014-12-06T14:16:15.188-08:00John Wick Gets MADSo while toiled away at varied and sundry, I've almost managed to catch a few movies.&nbsp; Among those caught:<br /><br />JOHN WICK: There was a brief internet firestorm when the first trailer for this appeared, partly because it looked like an awesome action movie, but also because it seemed to be slightly mocking the genre.&nbsp; When a fierce Keanu Reeves growls that the bad guys are going to pay because they killed the dog his dying wife left him, well, it's hard to take that completely seriously.&nbsp; But pay they do in this ferocious and fun action movie.&nbsp; Wick is a retired hitman who, by sheer bad fortune and concidence, is targeted by some Russian mobsters who want to steal his cool car.&nbsp; The aforementioned dog croaks and Wick decides to seek vengeance.&nbsp; Turns out Wick knew these bad boys in his past life and suddenly things get complicated.&nbsp; But boy, does he GET vengeance.&nbsp; The body count in this movie has to be pushing triple digits, with assorted Russian goons shot, stabbed, hurled off high places, run down and otherwise dispatched.&nbsp; It is a non-stop orgy of well choreographed violence... over a dog. <br /><br />The action is extremely well done and Reeves is excellent as Wick.&nbsp; Morally though, I'm a little dubious about a story that celebrates a sociopath lunatic wasting dozens of mob soldiers who had NOTHING to do with his doggie's demise. (Remember: he's avenging a dog.)&nbsp; I'm also in awe of the fantasy city where a guy can go on a massive, city-wide murder spree without drawing the slightest police attention.&nbsp; Imagine the tumult that would occur on real life news channels if 89+ people were violently murdered in one night by a single shooter/stabber/nut-kicker/neck-twister.&nbsp; Also, it appears that the video tracking systems that have become a staple of television cop shows (24, Criminal Minds, etc.) have been totally dismantled in John Wick's world, since evidently not a single one of his murders is captured on surveillance.&nbsp; But -- so what.&nbsp; Any movie where the best line is "oh" followed by a dropped telephone works for me!http://verheiden.blogspot.com/2014/12/john-wick-gets-mad.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mark Verheiden)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15603202.post-1994726091041803666Thu, 04 Dec 2014 20:49:00 +00002014-12-04T12:49:39.350-08:00Well, That Was Awhile...So it's been a few months.&nbsp; Give a guy a break.&nbsp; But with any luck I hope to be back with a little more frequency now.<br /><br />Just to catch up, I've been working on a little show called Constantine for a little network called NBC.&nbsp; Our first season wound up being 13 episodes and now we wait to see what happens next.&nbsp; Contrary to some reports, Constantine was not cancelled by NBC -- all episodes will run, they continue to promote the show, and life is good. As far as what the future holds, well, we're not the only series waiting for a pick-up.&nbsp; In other words, "we'll see."&nbsp; I would report on other big doings, but doing Constantine was pretty much "it" over the last few months.&nbsp;<br /><br />What I will probably start doing is rev up my movie/music/book reviews... as always the goodies have been piling into the Verheiden manse, and where better to discuss them?&nbsp; Keep watching FMVOF for updates! &nbsp; <br /><br />http://verheiden.blogspot.com/2014/12/well-that-was-awhile.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mark Verheiden)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15603202.post-6603995196807934979Fri, 24 Oct 2014 13:21:00 +00002014-10-24T06:21:23.856-07:00Constantine: So It Begins!Months of writing, months of shooting, months of editing, 60 minutes of viewing excitement... the CONSTANTINE TV adventure begins 10/24/14!&nbsp; Watch everyone's favorite dabbler in the dark arts take on all manner of demons, devils and undead spirits!&nbsp; 10PM Friday night on NBC, after Grimm, before the news (on most stations), but without a doubt at EXACTLY the right time. http://verheiden.blogspot.com/2014/10/constantine-so-it-begins.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mark Verheiden)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15603202.post-4623383524686564242Sat, 02 Aug 2014 13:59:00 +00002014-08-02T06:59:49.153-07:00Constantine! This Fall On NBC!I'm so impressed with people who manage to post something every day.&nbsp; Obviously I've taken a bit of a hiatus from my blog, mostly because... well, sloth when you're working 14 hour days is probably the wrong term.&nbsp; But when you're at the computer all day writing/working, spending more time there versus staring into orbit becomes an easy decision.<br /><br />So.&nbsp; Catching up.&nbsp; I am currently an executive producer on the upcoming NBC series CONSTANTINE, based on the DC Comics Hellblazer and Constantine comics.&nbsp; As I write this I'm about to head to lovely Atlanta to kick up production of my first episode, co-written with fellow exec. producer and series co-creator David Goyer -- meaning we're well into shooting and making fun television.&nbsp; All TV brings challenges, but we have a great group, studio (Warner Brothers) and network (NBC, obviously) who are all helping us making the best and coolest Constantine we can. <br /><br />I also have to bow in the direction of the great people at DC, especially Geoff Johns, for allowing me back into the TV DCU for the first time since SMALLVILLE. They have been totally supportive of the writers and producers and if this thing works (of which I have no doubt), no small credit goes to them and all the folks who realizing the best way to do John Constantine was to, well, do John Constantine!&nbsp; Replete with sarcasm, ciggies and the occasional moral ambiguity.<br /><br />I'm also thrilled to be back in the saddle with composer Bear McCreary... I got to suggest blues lyrics for a very special song the other day, a rare treat.&nbsp; You'll get to see the results when this episode erupts on screen this Fall!http://verheiden.blogspot.com/2014/08/constantine-this-fall-on-nbc.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mark Verheiden)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15603202.post-5182546981892791174Mon, 28 Apr 2014 21:24:00 +00002014-04-28T14:24:28.866-07:00A Brand New Stalkers Review?! What th -- ?These fine folks review "Stalkers", the Epic book I co-created and wrote along with my pal Jan Strnad way back in *mumble mumble*.&nbsp; And they like it!&nbsp; They're really like it!&nbsp; Click the link for all the gruesome details...<br /><br />http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2014/04/21/comics-you-should-own-stalkers/http://verheiden.blogspot.com/2014/04/a-brand-new-stalkers-review-what-th.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mark Verheiden)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15603202.post-7172399639528877294Mon, 28 Apr 2014 21:22:00 +00002014-04-28T14:22:05.691-07:00Blue RuinA cool indie movie currently in limited release and available on pay per view, BLUE RUIN has the structure of your basic revenge film, but done with a different sense of style.&nbsp; The lead character, Dwight, is hardly a Charles Bronson surrogate.&nbsp; Instead, he's homeless, spending his time alternating between the beach, breaking into homes to take a bath and sleeping in his hideous blue car (hence "Blue Ruin"). <br /><br />Then things change.&nbsp; A friendly police officer informs Dwight that the man serving time for murdering Dwight's father is being released from prison.&nbsp; That sets in motion an escalating series of increasingly violent events that draws heat not only on Dwight but also his (innocent) sister.&nbsp; Even though Dwight is our nominal "hero", he does a lot of thoroughly non-heroic things, screws up repeatedly and ultimately makes some discoveries that suggest his quest for justice (or whatever it is) may actually be wrong-headed.&nbsp; The movie's also not about steely super soldiers.&nbsp; There's a very sensible scene in the film where an injured person tries to fix a wound on their lonesome, Rambo style, only to fail miserably and resort (sensibly!) to the E.R. You'd never see Stallone do that! <br /><br />Blue Ruin is very quiet for this sort of film, with several scenes of real tension that reminded me of the recently concluded True Detective series.&nbsp; There are a few eyebrow-raising moments (I'm either impressed or unnerved at how many people in this film don't seem particularly gob-smacked by murder) but overall it's a nice, tense piece of work.&nbsp; I liked it!<br /><br /><br /><br />http://verheiden.blogspot.com/2014/04/blue-ruin.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mark Verheiden)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15603202.post-3463788134598061495Wed, 23 Apr 2014 15:41:00 +00002014-04-23T08:44:56.894-07:00Great And Crazy Movies...A new (?) cable-ish network called EPIX is throwing up a bunch of really lousy 70's/80's horror and sci-fi that pretty much is like sitting in my living room circa that era and going through my VHS tape collection.&nbsp; Just randomly grabbing things, I found LADY FRANKENSTEIN (poor Joseph Cotten stars, "from Citizen Kane to THIS?!"), the Traci Lords version of Roger Corman's NOT OF THIS EARTH, Umberto Lenzi's grotesque zombie epic NIGHTMARE CITY (in subtitled Italian!), and perhaps the most grotesque, WILLIAM SHATNER'S GONZO BALLET, a dance film based on William Shatner's musical collaboration with Ben Folds. <br /><br />The Shatner piece is recent, but the other stuff appears to be taken directly from the original fuzzy VHS copies. This is not some archival effort ala Blue Underground's Criterion-like restorations, but down and dirty and the exactly the way I remember them.&nbsp; Since the channel comes in over whatever crazy cable package I'm getting, I'm not sure what I'm paying for this stuff, but it's worth it!<br /><br />OLDBOY: A bit more recent (as in "last year"), I finally caught up to Spike Lee's remake of OLDBOY.&nbsp; The original version is an insane, completely perverse masterpiece.&nbsp; The remake is more or less faithful (must less toward the end), but for some reason, despite some amazing talent, it just doesn't come together.&nbsp; Josh Brolin plays the title character, a bore who finds himself locked in a hotel room-ish prison for 20 years, with no idea why he's there or who's holding him.&nbsp; He gets to watch plenty of TV during his incarceration and learns he's been framed for his wife's murder.&nbsp; 20 years in, he's suddenly released and goes on a mission of vengeance.&nbsp; Somehow 20 years in stir has given him the chance to develop some keen martial arts skills, which he definitely needs as he takes hammers and fists to an assortment of folks who don't want to give a guy a break.&nbsp; Eventually he discovers the magnitude of the mad plot that led to his incarceration, a plot that required some impossible to predict alliances to succeed.&nbsp; I can't quite put my finger on why this doesn't work better than it does... it's not bad, it just doesn't have the crazy sizzle of the original.&nbsp; And that's too bad because I would LOVE for more gritty, crime-ridden movies from Hollywood... &nbsp; <br /><br />William Friedkin's SORCERER is finally out in a fully restored, approved by Friedkin blu-ray that looks AMAZING. The previous DVD was a pan and scan nightmare, but this edition has gorgeous color and is probably as good or better than the first 35mm prints.&nbsp; Released at the same time as STAR WARS and with an unfortunate title that promises some supernatural element that doesn't exist, this was considered a big disappointment back in the day -- but it is one of the best 70's movie out there, easily in my top ten of the time.&nbsp; A remake of the French film WAGES OF FEAR, this is a sparse, gritty crime/adventure drama with some of the most harrowing trucking sequences ever filmed. (I know what you're thinking, how can a "truck sequence" be harrowing? Watch this movie and see!) Anyhow, five stars, thumbs up, highest recommendation, etc. http://verheiden.blogspot.com/2014/04/great-and-crazy-movies.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mark Verheiden)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15603202.post-7658958000136929565Sun, 20 Apr 2014 16:02:00 +00002014-04-20T09:02:47.990-07:00The Fateful Return...It's been awhile since I posted, partially out of ennui, being busy, being sick, and partially out of "can't think of anything to say."&nbsp; Sort of a conundrum for a guy who writes for a living, but hey, that's fiction.&nbsp; I suppose I could fill this up with imaginary tales ("After knocking the knife out of Don Rumsfeld's hand, it was just the two of us, mano a mano...") but no, I save that "brilliance" for paying customers.<br /><br />I guess there's a reason why there aren't a lot of movies about the act of writing.&nbsp; Most of it is sitting and thinking and typing and rewriting and sitting some more.&nbsp; Interspersed with downloading the latest Springsteen show from his official site and taking time out for watching Chris Hayes and shaking my fist at the world.&nbsp; Not exactly scintillating drama. I suppose I could extrapolate on the writing experience, but process-wise, I tend to operate on a very intuitive basis. I would not be good at teaching this nonsense, because my main advice would be "write interesting stuff and keep writing enough of it to fill X number of pages." I'd feel bad charging $200 for that. (Not THAT bad, but bad.)<br /><br />I've been taking some trips down memory lane recently as we clean out my parents house to prepare it for sale.&nbsp; My Mother kept EVERYTHING, including piles of old homework, stories, artwork, etc. As I flip through stacks of my old art pieces, I am vividly reminded why I switched to writer, but it's fun to look back at what my 13 year old brain was creating.&nbsp; We also found some early rejection slips and other ephemera that only has meaning to yours truly.&nbsp; And still make me STEAMING MAD. <span id="goog_246257701"></span><span id="goog_246257702"></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dVTdX0npf7k/U1PvbBGbrbI/AAAAAAAAABI/FR_M-sqkPmo/s1600/Warren+rejection.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dVTdX0npf7k/U1PvbBGbrbI/AAAAAAAAABI/FR_M-sqkPmo/s1600/Warren+rejection.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div><br />Anyhow, I'll try to be back with work updates and reviews as the mood strikes.&nbsp; Meanwhile, happy Easter! <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />http://verheiden.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-fateful-return.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mark Verheiden)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15603202.post-213688147302150207Mon, 24 Feb 2014 17:17:00 +00002014-02-24T09:17:55.851-08:00Mr. Springsteen And His ShowsYes, I know it's been over a month since my last post.&nbsp; What can I say, I've been busy on various fronts and that focus comes at a price.&nbsp; Besides, when you download a new official Springsteen show every couple of days, there goes the weekend, baby!<br /><br />So, as I write this, there have been 11 official releases from Springsteen South Africa/Australian tour.&nbsp; Out of those, Springsteen has elected not to put up one of the nights (2/16/14), at least not yet. The theory from fans is that Springsteen admitted on stage that he was a little buzzed that evening, and the show, one of the longest in awhile, was not exactly up to his standards.&nbsp; Of course, this just makes that night a holy grail among fans, many of whom enjoy the idea of sloppy as much as perfection.&nbsp; I have no doubt that some enterprising taper will eventually throw that night into the morass known as "the internet", but I do hope B.S. reconsiders and puts out an official version.<br /><br />Meanwhile, anyone even vaguely interested in this nonsense should check out at least one of the shows. It's hard for me to pick a favorite, since the set lists vary drastically night by night, so your best bet is to peruse the set-lists and make your choice off that.&nbsp; Born in the USA fan?&nbsp; One night he does the entire album.&nbsp; Darkness On The Edge Of Town devotee?&nbsp; Same deal.&nbsp; Sound quality is more or less equal (tho some nights feature a LOT of crowd) so that really isn't an issue.&nbsp; Here's the official website... <br /><br />http://www.store2.livenation.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/Store.woa/wa/artist?sourceCode=FANWEB&amp;categoryName=Live+Downloads&amp;artistName=Bruce+Springsteen<br /><br />http://verheiden.blogspot.com/2014/02/mr-springsteen-and-his-shows.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mark Verheiden)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15603202.post-2672081964581192485Thu, 23 Jan 2014 00:01:00 +00002014-01-22T17:20:38.679-08:00Stuff I Like!Ahh, Amazon, how you fulfill me... here are a few of the latest and greatest goodies to pass over the MV transom...<br /><br />ROCKPILE: Live At The Rockpalast: An imported CD/DVD of an early 1980 show by the late, great Rockpile.&nbsp; Dave Edmunds, Nick Lowe, Billy Bremner and Terry Williams owed my rock and roll world back in the day, and this concert is pretty much the boys at their best.&nbsp; Think a dab of rockabilly combined with a dollop of 60's rock, amp it all up to 11 and there's Rockpile.&nbsp; The band broke up WAY too soon, though the principles went on to storied solo careers.&nbsp; But there are always archival releases like this to remind us of past glories...<br /><br />DAVE EDMUNDS "Alive": Speaking of storied careers, this is the first new Edmunds material in years.&nbsp; Unfortunately there are only five new tracks combined with some goodies from previous releases, but the old stuff is only old if you've heard it before, and most of the songs are from Edmunds' more obscure releases.&nbsp; The new stuff shows he hasn't lost a step, and here's hoping for a full-on new CD soon...<br /><br />STOP YELLIN': Ben Pivar And The Horror, Mystery and Action Adventure Films of His Universal B-Unit.&nbsp; Well, the book's subtitle kind of says it all.&nbsp; Pivar produced dozens of movies in the 30's and 40's, but is perhaps most remembered for his contributions to the Mummy series and "The Brute Man", one of the more disturbing movies to emerge from the 40's.&nbsp; Not because of the subject matter, per se (standard serial killer stuff), but because the star was Rondo Hatton, a sadly deformed man who evidently piqued Universal's interest after he appeared in a Sherlock Holmes movie.&nbsp; This 500+ page tome absolutely tells you everything you ever wanted to know about Ben Pivar, and since you probably didn't want to know anything, some might call all that overkill. Me, I found it a fascinating slice of life from the trenches of 40's filmmaking with some Barton Fink overtones. <br /><br />SPRINGSTEEN Live: Well, he's finally doing it.&nbsp; Evidently every show from Springsteen's upcoming tour is going to be released 48 hours post-concert to an eager Bruce-loving world.&nbsp; That's the good news.&nbsp; The slightly less advantageous news is that the concerts are being distributed (at first anyway) through a system where you have to buy a 2GB memory stick either at the concert or from Springsteen's site for $40, which will them allow you to download Mp3 medium-resolution concerts from the internet.&nbsp; Want more concerts, you gotta buy more memory sticks. Want higher resolution flac files, forget it (for now).&nbsp; Look, I'm not gonna bite the hand that's finally giving fans what they've been clamoring after for decades, but here's hoping a non-memory stick, high quality downloadable version is hot on the heels of this initial effort!<br /><br />ADDITIONAL INFO HOT OFF THE PRESSES!&nbsp; Turns out Springsteen is also offering Mp3s and flac files from his website for $9.99 and $14.99 respectively.&nbsp; FANTASTIC.&nbsp; Now I wish I hadn't jumped in and bought a wristband already (*sob*).&nbsp; <br />http://verheiden.blogspot.com/2014/01/stuff-i-like.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mark Verheiden)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15603202.post-8493981670496190631Mon, 20 Jan 2014 17:03:00 +00002014-01-20T12:26:23.355-08:00Tranquility The Series!So my long gestating television project was finally announced last week in the various trades by my friends at Bell Canada.&nbsp; Here's how the Hollywood Reporter put it:<br /><br /><i>Other police dramas being hot-housed by... (Bell Canada)... include Sonar Entertainment teaming up with Double Nickel Entertainment and <b>Mark Verheiden </b>(Battlestar Galactica) on Tranquility, a sci-fi series about a troubled ex-cop with a new gig on a moon colony.</i><br /><br />The wonderful thing about a blog is the ability to "augment" this release with a tad more detail.&nbsp; First of all, from the world of "sometimes you just have to persevere," I've been fussing with Tranquility off and on since 2005.&nbsp; It began when the two principles involved with Double Nickle, former DC publisher Jenette Kahn and her partner Adam Richman, approached me with an idea from writer/editor/director Stewart Schill.&nbsp; We developed a pitch for a series that year, but the world was not ready for Tranquility... yet...<br /><br />But the project stuck with me, and as time passed it felt like there was more of an appetite for science fiction in the television world.&nbsp; Aside from the change in the market, I had hatched some new story thoughts that expanded the original Tranquility world beyond the initial pitch.&nbsp; Jenette and Adam and Stewart liked the fussing and so it was time for "take two."&nbsp; And this time the folks at Sonar Entertainment and Bell Canada came on board.&nbsp; I hesitate to get into too many more details about the show itself, but suffice to say there is more going on than your standard "troubled ex-cop" tropes.&nbsp; I mean, it's on the moon, for cryin' out loud.&nbsp; There will be mystery and heart and action and surprises galore...<br /><br />And I will continue to report as developments ensue!<br /><br /><br />http://verheiden.blogspot.com/2014/01/tranquility-series.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mark Verheiden)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15603202.post-3495126792156630472Wed, 11 Dec 2013 15:48:00 +00002013-12-11T07:48:02.151-08:00Homefront?The title doesn't make much sense in context, but regardless, Homefront the movie is a solid action movie written by Sylvester Stallone (!), directed by Gary Fleder and starring Jason Stathem and James Franco. <br /><br />Stathem plays "Broker", an undercover DEA agent who takes down a bunch of biker/meth dealers and winds up on the surviving biker's hit list. For reasons not really explained (though Broker's wife died off-camera a some point), Broker quits the force, packs up his 12 year old daughter and buys a ramshackle house in rural Louisiana.&nbsp; Evidently the DEA has an amazing pension plan because Broker no longer has to work and spends most of his time puttering around doing home-repairs and charming his daughter's grade school teacher.<br /><br />But.&nbsp; There's ALWAYS a but.&nbsp; When daughter Maddy gets in a schoolyard fracas with a bully, daddy Stathem is confronted by the bully's annoyed parents and employs his DEA/ninja skills to settle things.&nbsp; Except slamming a guy to the ground and choking him in front of his wife and son doesn't have the placating effect he hoped.&nbsp; Turns out the wife's brother is "Gator" Bodine (James Franco), yet another meth dealer with a cadre of goons, and he doesn't take kindly to this newbie roughing up his relatives.&nbsp; He's probably sore because people make fun of his name.&nbsp; Anyhow, a series of tit-for-tat confrontations escalate until... well, I won't get into spoilers, but there's a lot of beatin' up and shootin'.<br /><br />That sounds pretty routine, but there are a couple of things going for Homefront.&nbsp; First, it's very well directed by Gary Fleder, who eschews CGI stuntwork for more grounded fisticuffs.&nbsp; Cars don't magically fly over other cars and bodies actually obey the laws of physics.&nbsp; It's also very well acted by Stathem, Franco and Winona Ryder as a meth head (!).&nbsp; And finally, the story actually leaves room for characters to evolve in slightly unexpected ways.&nbsp; In real life, sometimes it actually IS possible to apologize and put things behind you without a half dozen suicidal machine-gun toting dudes coming after you.&nbsp; At least I hope so (sorry I flipped you off, guy who cut me off in traffic!).<br /><br />But again, I don't get the title. I've read that this was originally going to be a Rambo sequel, and a story about a soldier from overseas coming home to fight local bad guys, well, then Homefront makes sense.&nbsp; U.S. based DEA agent retiring to U.S. based meth region and getting into fights, not so much.&nbsp; Oh well.&nbsp; Too bad there's an old Burt Reynolds movie called "Gator" because that's a great title... &nbsp; <br /><br /><br />http://verheiden.blogspot.com/2013/12/homefront.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mark Verheiden)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15603202.post-5949969350656525650Sun, 08 Dec 2013 15:40:00 +00002013-12-08T07:42:20.762-08:00Nebraska Is A State of Mind......and "Nebraska" is also a really good movie from director Alexander Payne and writer Bob Nelson.&nbsp; Yes, it's WGA "screener season" again, my chance to catch up on some great movies from the comfort of the couch. Yes, back cover of screener DVD box, I understand that movies are meant to be seen on the big screen... now leave me alone!&nbsp; Get off my lawn!<br /><br />Which is sort of the tenor of Nebraska... Bruce Dern plays Woody Grant, an elderly, verging-on-Alzheimers fellow who becomes convinced he's won a million dollar Publisher's Cleaning House-type sweepstakes.&nbsp; But he needs to get from his home in Billings Montana to the sweepstakes office in Lincoln Nebraska to collect it.&nbsp; Woody's wife and adult kids know it's a scam, but finally his son David (Will Forte) takes pity and humors Woody by giving him a lift.<br /><br />It's a pretty classic set-up for some father/son road-trip bonding, but Woody makes Wilson the volleyball look like a chatterbox. So that doesn't exactly work out.&nbsp; Then a pit stop in Woody's hometown leads to encounters with family and old friends who actually believe the million dollar story, leading to new adventures in greed and avarice.<br /><br />Nebraska the movie is less about big laughs (though there are a couple) and more about those knowing smiles of recognition. Awkward family encounters, pointed silences, secrets unwittingly (or maliciously) revealed... twist those moments one way and they're tragic, twist them just a little the other and you have this movie.&nbsp; Writer Bob Nelson has an ear for awkward dialogue and a great comic sense of timing.&nbsp; There's a bit involving an air compressor (!) that is pretty darn funny.&nbsp; And believe me, people have tried to make air compressors funny before!<br /><br />You need to settle in for this one, let the moody black and white photography draw you in, but once you're there, Dern is amazing as Woody and June Squibb as his long suffering (but hardly passive) wife Kate is great, too. Good stuff! <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; http://verheiden.blogspot.com/2013/12/nebraska-is-state-of-mind.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mark Verheiden)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15603202.post-2242482190312002407Tue, 03 Dec 2013 17:49:00 +00002013-12-03T12:27:48.883-08:00Shark Alley The NovelMy buddy John Goins is a man of many talents (bass player for the legendary punk bank "The Cleavers", poker player extraordinaire in the legendary Nugget casino in Reno) and now he's added "excellent novelist" to the list.&nbsp; His first novel, "Shark Alley", is now available from Smashwords for the ridiculously low price of $2.99, and it's well worth checking out.&nbsp; A clever Western set in San Francisco's Barbary Coast, it's like a cross between Bonanza and The Wild Wild West, with great characters and lively twists.&nbsp; I was hooked from page one! <br /><br />Here's the official description:<br /><br /><span itemprop="description">SHARK ALLEY: San Francisco 1877: An insane ex-Confederate Colonel is murdering members of the famous Barbary Coast Squad. "Shark Alley" follows Detective Inspector Nick Lockwood as he pursues the evil Colonel Tobias before Lockwood's hidden past is revealed.</span><br /><br /><span itemprop="description">This gets my whole-hearted, five star, thumbs-up, multiple smiley-face recommendation. &nbsp;</span> <br /><br />https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/376669<br /><br />http://verheiden.blogspot.com/2013/12/shark-alley-novel.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mark Verheiden)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15603202.post-7788910905603115356Sat, 30 Nov 2013 17:30:00 +00002013-12-02T11:04:17.546-08:00On The Passing of My Father...My father Eric Verheiden passed away on November 14 after a long struggle with prostate cancer.&nbsp; He had recently turned 87 years old.&nbsp; He is survived by his four sons and six Grandchildren, and he's resting alongside his wife Caroline, who passed away in 2008.&nbsp; <br /><br />Dad was born on Oct. 24, 1926, son to Amy and father Eric Senior.&nbsp; My dad's dad was a logger in Oregon's timber industry and an accomplished amateur painter.&nbsp; There were two sons, Eric and younger brother Hans, and the family was living in a small home in Portland Oregon when the depression hit.&nbsp; A hard life became even harder when Eric Sr. was killed in a logging accident in 1933.<br /><br />But the family persevered.&nbsp; Classified 4F because of a heart murmur, my father worked in Portland's shipyards during the war.&nbsp; His mother Amy worked in a cannery while attending to Hans, who had contracted polio and spent many months in the hospital.&nbsp; They did not have an easy life by any means, but I honestly can't remember my father ever complaining about those days.&nbsp; If anything, he would remember life in the 30's with fondness.&nbsp; Buying used Doc Savage pulps for a nickle each from a nearby bookstore.&nbsp; Working in a hardware store for 10 cents an hour and learning all about tools.&nbsp; Fixing up on old car and rolling around the neighborhood. &nbsp; <br /><br />(Actually, I do remember one complaint: he washed dishes to pay for his tuition through college, and he hated souffle days because those pans were almost impossible to clean.)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <br /><br />Dad graduated from Oregon State University -- he was an electrical engineer by trade and worked his entire career for Portland General Electric, the utility company that (still) delivers electricity to a big chunk of Oregon.&nbsp; Early in his career, my dad designed the physical power poles that carried lines into various rural areas.&nbsp; He was especially proud of one of his more elaborate constructions and took my then pregnant mother on a bumpy ride to check out his handiwork.&nbsp; Not long after, yours truly was born prematurely... <br /><br />For a long time Dad was the guy who would put together the crews on snowy/icy/stormy days to repair downed power lines.&nbsp; Later he rose in the ranks of management and was involved in figuring out budgets and the "business of business" that kept the lights on.<br /><br />My dad was proud of his work, but I think he was most proud of the freelance articles he wrote and sold to various utility/power company journals back in the day.&nbsp; Most of these sales happened when I was still just a tyke and something about his delight and pride over those articles clearly registered in my four year old lizard brain.&nbsp; So go ahead, blame my dad for my so-called writing career.&nbsp; Trust me, he won't mind.<br /><br />My father met my mother at the Oaks Park skating rink (it's still there, in "The Oaks" amusement park in Portland), where they shared an affinity for roller-skating and dancing.&nbsp; He was 19 and she was 16, sparks flew, and they were married three years later.<br /><br />Next thing you know, kids! They had a couple of "parenting" policies that seemed natural at the time but which I now, looking back, think were actually quite progressive. <br /><br />1): If the kids needed anything "educational" (books, magazines, tuition), they would do whatever they could to provide it.&nbsp; They subscribed to both local papers and dozens of different magazines, everything from the news weeklies to Road and Track and National Geographic.&nbsp; I grew up in a house where reading and learning were as natural and routine as our morning bowl of Cheerios.<br /><br />2): As long as his kids got good grades, there were never any "bed times" or "be home by 11" edicts.&nbsp; We all kept crazy hours, but two of my brothers graduated with PhDs (Math and Physics), a third retired early from Microsoft, and then there's me, the Hollywood bum.&nbsp;&nbsp; So I guess the system worked okay for us.<br /><br />I have endless fond memories of growing up in (then) rural-ish Oregon.&nbsp; We had a small house on one and a half acres of land, plenty of room for four boys and nearby friends to build forts, tree-houses, dig "holes to China" and other non-internet related activities.&nbsp; When we were still kids, my parents invested in a small power boat and we spent many Summer weekends on the Willamette and Columbia rivers, water skiing and crashing through the wakes of passing big ships.&nbsp; We rented trailers, dragged them behind our old station wagon and drove to the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and many other vacation destinations.<br /><br />Frankly, we made "Leave It To Beaver" look like an episode of "Sons Of Anarchy."&nbsp; My parents didn't drink or smoke and I can count on one hand the number of times they had an argument.&nbsp; No "horrors of childhood" stories here -- if any of us screwed up later in life, it was our own damn fault!<br /><br />My Dad was an Eisenhower Republican, which led to the occasional (ahem) argument, but after the prosperous Clinton years and the not so prosperous Bush-2 years, he switched to Democrat and never looked back.&nbsp; My father and mother were not particularly religious, and my father especially loathed the so-called Moral Majority and "social conservatives."&nbsp; One strong memory, from when I was six or seven years old: my father had invested in the "Time-Life Series on Religion", a six volume set.&nbsp; He didn't feel it was right to let his lack of religious interest influence us, so he decided he would read us a chapter a night from the books so we could make up our own minds.&nbsp; That lasted two nights. &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; <br /><br />Dad probably would have kept working for PGE until 65, but when early retirement deals were offered to older employees in a round of cost-cutting, my Mom encouraged him to take the deal and he retired at 59.&nbsp; He later said it was the best decision he ever made (well, second to marrying my Mom).&nbsp; Unlike some fellows who miss the hurly-burly of work, Dad was liberated and did much traveling/bike-riding/backyard sitting with my mother, until she was afflicted with both Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases.&nbsp; It was an especially brutal combination, and despite having resources to do otherwise, my father insisted on caring for her by himself through her entire illness, a 24/7 job.&nbsp; He was devastated when she died and she was never far from his thoughts in the years after.&nbsp; They had been married for 59 years.&nbsp; Then Dad's younger brother Hans died on Oct. 17, 2011, after struggling with the after-effects of polio all his life.&nbsp; <br /><br />My father was diagnosed with prostate cancer early on and struggled with the disease for nearly 17 years.&nbsp; Actually, I'm not sure "struggle" is the right word.&nbsp; He had a radiation treatment at the beginning, then started a regimen of medications, but only really started to manifest symptoms this year.&nbsp; His doctors were perplexed (in a good way!) by his condition... there were times when Dad's PSA (prostate specific antigen) score soared into the 100's, this when a 10 is considered cause for alarm, but his doctors noted that they could only treat symptoms, not a number, so as long as he was feeling okay...<br /><br />That finally ended this Summer, and when Dad's oncologist recommended hospice care in late August he took it with his usual calm demeanor.&nbsp; My father wanted to stay in his house until the end, and with the help of some amazing caregivers and the hospice workers, he got his wish.&nbsp; To a person, the caregivers were astonished by my dad's good cheer and graciousness.&nbsp; He was always worried about the burden he was putting on them.&nbsp; Our family was with Dad as much as possible, but his caregivers Steve, Gary, Norma, and Nikki (who was there with me and my younger brother when my father died) were amazing. <br /><br />I could go on, and may in future installments, but that's what comes to mind a week and a half after his funeral...&nbsp; <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp; http://verheiden.blogspot.com/2013/11/on-passing-of-my-father.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mark Verheiden)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15603202.post-2291042423091603700Tue, 05 Nov 2013 18:17:00 +00002013-11-05T10:18:07.483-08:00It's Been Awhile......and I figure I should post for "proof of life" or something.&nbsp; Anyhow, I haven't disappeared, but it's been busy and difficult time the last few weeks and the ol' blog has suffered.&nbsp; But I'm still seeing movies (hello, "The Room!"), collecting music (but enough of the gigantic impossible to store box sets, please!) and working on various projects.&nbsp; Aside from writing the already announced "Children of Paranoia", nothing that ready to announce yet, but things are forging ahead.<br /><br />More soon...<br /><br /><br />http://verheiden.blogspot.com/2013/11/its-been-awhile.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mark Verheiden)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15603202.post-4602918695751947396Thu, 03 Oct 2013 15:08:00 +00002013-10-04T12:57:30.945-07:00Olympus Has Fallen and It Can't Get UpOLYMPUS HAS FALLEN: So some North Korean bad guys want some prisoners released, so they manage to put together a cargo plane equipped with enough weapons (defensive and offensive) to fend off fighter jets and surface-to-air missiles (!) and launch an attack on Washington D.C. and the White House. Meanwhile, semi-disgraced secret service agent Mike Banning (great hero name! Wasn't he the tough guy on Jonny Quest?), played by Gerard Butler, winds up being the last man standing inside the White House after the really suicidal terrorists manage to capture the President and his top aides. <br /><br />Look, this sort of movie is what it is. I'm a big fan of 80's style style action movies so in the immortal words of George W. Bush, "bring it on!" But a couple of things:<br /><br />First, this movie is amazingly blood-thirsty.&nbsp; The filmmakers wanted to make the attack feel dangerous and visceral, so when the magical Korean gunship bears down on the Washington monument and opens fire, tourists and guards and hapless acres of sod are blown apart in an orgy of CGI blood spurts and dust pops.&nbsp; That's followed by a ground assault where dozens of secret service agents (and bad guys) are blasted. This is not the "war is heck" version of a White House takeover.&nbsp; <br /><br />Second, as much as I love old style action movies, I find myself more fascinating post-viewing by contemplating the logistics involved.&nbsp; There's an entire movie in showing these North Korean bad guys recruiting a disgruntled American secret service agent, buying a cargo plane and amassing the high tech arms used in the attack.&nbsp; I have no idea if the missile defense system aboard the cargo plane exists or would actually work, but the planning and devising that went into building it would be compelling.&nbsp; And there's a whole 'nother movie in how the bad guys managed to insinuate themselves into the Korean delegation, gathered their suicidal forces and got them into the United States.<br /><br />But watching Mike Banning kick a lot of ass is fun too...&nbsp; <br /><br />&nbsp; <br />&nbsp;&nbsp; http://verheiden.blogspot.com/2013/10/olympus-has-fallen-and-it-cant-get-up.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mark Verheiden)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15603202.post-3112817663665754836Thu, 03 Oct 2013 14:44:00 +00002013-10-03T07:44:36.401-07:00King V.S. KubrickA writer at "The New Statesman" takes umbrage at the idea that Stephen King didn't care for Stanley Kubrick's adaptation of THE SHINING.&nbsp; Internet flames ensue! <br /><br />http://www.newstatesman.com/culture/2013/09/stephen-king-still-wont-accept-kubricks-genius<br /><br />Me, I find the article's stance puzzling and irritating. In an effort to defend Kubrick's vision no matter what, the writer seems to forget that King was the creator of THE SHINING and has every right not only to be unhappy with the adaptation, but to have that opinion respected.&nbsp; I take particular exception with this section of the article:<br /><br /><i>Despite these criticisms flying in the face of popular opinion, King is not being deliberately contrary. In fact, his assertions prove that his connection with these particular characters have rendered him incapable of appreciating a terrific piece of cinema.</i><br /><br />Really?&nbsp; Condescend much, pal?&nbsp;<i> </i>The guy who wrote the novel and created the characters has been rendered "incapable" of critical thought because he doesn't agree with you?<br /><br />But then the truth is, I agree with Stephen King on this one.&nbsp; I consider Kubrick one of the few true geniuses of film, but everybody has a misfire from time to time and for me, THE SHINING was one.&nbsp; I was riveted by the book and still remember going to the theater gleefully anticipating the first real no-bullshit Stanley Kubrick horror film.&nbsp; But King's right -- THE SHINING is cold and withdrawn.&nbsp; Where's the amazing moment from the book where Torrance rampages through the hotel, slamming a bloody axe against the walls as he descends into total homicidal madness?&nbsp; How did that become a literally ice-cold chase scene through a frozen hedge maze? <br /><br />Look, even average Kubrick is better than 99% of the stuff out there, so there is much to admire and enjoy about the movie version of THE SHINING.&nbsp; But accusing King of just not getting it is taking Kubrick veneration a step too far.&nbsp; (Which is also the long way of saying I'm looking forward to the next film adaptation of the book!)<br /> <br /><br /><br />http://verheiden.blogspot.com/2013/10/king-vs-kubrick.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mark Verheiden)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15603202.post-2238715585828680989Wed, 04 Sep 2013 20:02:00 +00002013-09-04T13:06:18.960-07:00Runaway Train One of the best films to come out of the Cannon factory (which, in this rare case, is NOT damning with faint praise), RUNAWAY TRAIN has just been reissued on blu-ray with many extras, though this edition appears to be only available (so far) from the U.K. <br /><br />Based on a script originally written by Akira Kurosawa, TRAIN is about two escaped convicts, played by Jon Voight and Eric Roberts, who have the bad luck to a), escape from a maximum security prison in a blinding snow storm and b), hitch a ride on a train just as the engineer keels from a heart attack.&nbsp; Various plot devices ensue that leave the train roaring down the tracks at high speed with no way to stop it.<br /><br />In other hands this could have been another forgettable Cannon quickie, but director Andrei Konchalovsky makes everything he can out of the situation, and the result, as Jon Voight says in his commentary, is visual poetry.&nbsp; There are many striking sequences, some made even more astounding when some of the tricks are revealed.&nbsp;&nbsp; (Hint -- a big chunk of the movie was shot in a warehouse on Beverly Blvd. in Hollywood).<br /><br />But the beating heart of this movie is Jon Voight, who delivers a riveting, over-the-top, compelling performance as Oscar "Manny" Mannheim, one of the escaped cons.&nbsp; When we first meet Manny, he's being ordered released from the solitary cell that evil Warden Rankin (John P. Ryan at his nastiest) had him welded into (!) years earlier.&nbsp; There's some nasty history between these two, and when Manny bids prison adieu, Rankin is determined to bring him back.&nbsp; Meanwhile, Manny has to deal with his "partner" Buck (Mr. Roberts) whose self-aggrandizing blabber would have had Mother Theresa reaching for a gun.&nbsp; One of the best scenes in the film, where Manny finally explodes on Buck for boasting about all the amazing stuff he's going to do once they're free, turns out to have been scribbled out by Voight the night before shooting.&nbsp; Which means I have to hate him, I guess, but it really is amazing stuff. <br /><br />I've always loved this movie -- the look, the gritty dialogue (some by ex-con Eddie Bunker), the performances, the incredible stunt work and FX -- it's got it all.&nbsp; There are interviews with Konchalovsky, Roberts and supporting actor Kyle Heffner, but a lengthy piece from Jon Voight is especially interesting.&nbsp; Well worth hunting down!<br /><br />http://verheiden.blogspot.com/2013/09/runaway-train.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mark Verheiden)0